Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Tuesday he was confident that European countries will reach a deal on new budget rules by the end of the year.

"I think we will reach an agreement, if not in October, by Christmas", Giorgetti said on the sidelines of an event in Rome.

 

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, writing by Gianluca Semeraro, editing by Alvise Armellini)